Lusaka Water owed K140m in unpaid bills

PRISCILLA CHIPULU, Lusaka
THE Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC) is owed about K140 million in unpaid bills, denying the company revenue it desperately needs to improve service delivery in the city.
LWSC managing director Sylvester Mashamba said the non-payment of water bills by its domestic and commercial customers has adversely affected the companyâ€™s cash flow.
He said the company had put in place measures such as the water rationing programme to contain the situation and ensure stability and equitable supply of water to customers within the limitations.
Speaking at a media briefing to review the companyâ€™s performance in 2016, Dr Mashamba said the company managed to register about 3,000 new connections which translates to over 30,000 people getting access to clean safe drinking water.
â€œOne of our milestones during the year was the launch of the Kafue bulk project worth US$150 million that will see us bring to Lusaka an additional 50 million litres of water per day,â€ said Dr Mashamba.
He has also said that there is steady progress in the Lusaka Water Supply Sanitation and Drainage Project (LWSSDP) financed by the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
â€œThe project is expected to benefit over 1.2 million people. Under this project, Kaunda Square ponds will be rehabilitated and expanded.
â€œThe Iolanda Water Treatment Plant in Kafue will be rehabilitated and there will be water extension networks in areas like Ndeke, Vornavalley, Kwamwena, Mtendere East, Mtendere, Kalikiliki, SOS and Ngombe [townships]â€, said Dr Mashamba.
He said the company has set aside K282 million for infrastructure development.
Dr Mashamba said K36 million of the capital will be financed from internal revenue collections, while Government through the Ministry of Local Government has pledged to provide K39 million for the water supply improvement infrastructure in Chongwe and Luangwa.